By Jonathan Copsey / STAFF

It’s time to rev up, Roswell.

Arts and Culture are the engine that drive Roswell’s creative community. If anyone ever doubted that, they should have seen the annual pARTners Power lunch held by Roswell’s Cultural Arts Board.

Held in Roswell’s Cultural Arts Building, the gathering introduced more than 100 of Roswell’s movers and shakers to some of the city’s numerous artistic and cultural groups as well as honoring two people and a company for their efforts in supporting arts in the community. Sylvia Rossman, a volunteer at Bulloch Hall and Georgia Ensemble Theater, was awarded volunteer of the year; Thomas Ludwig, of the Ludwig Symphony Orchestra, was awarded artist of the year; Malon D. Mimms and Co. was awarded benefactor of the year for their ongoing contributions to Roswell’s arts and culture.

Almost $14 million is generated from the arts in Roswell. Everything from plays and ballet to art exhibitions and clay sculpting has an impact on the city’s bottom line. What people do not realize is the economic impact that the arts contribute to a city. For instance, when a couple decides to visit a play, they may hire a babysitter, order a pizza for said babysitter and/or kids, use a dry cleaner, get a haircut, fill up the car, go out to eat and buy tickets. Multiply that by the dozens of cultural groups and events, over 400 jobs and more than $1 million in direct taxes, and Roswell’s vibrancy becomes an important aspect of the city’s finances.

“The more you flourish as an arts and cultural group, the more Roswell will prosper,” pronounced Sharon Moskowitz, chair of the Cultural Arts Board, to the gathered audience.

As a special treat to those in attendance, a new promotional video was unveiled that highlighted many of Roswell’s premier and world-class cultural institutions. Titled “VRoom,” (which stands for Vital for Roswell), the idea that Roswell’s arts and culture drive the community certainly was not a new one for those gathered.

They already knew the arts were important.